Karleen has mentioned the legal opinion that appeared on the New Mexico Breastfeeding Coalition's website regarding a law suit between infant formula companies, the state of Texas, and consumers. I have a copy of the legal opinion which can be obtained from LexisNexis, probably for a fee. You should read the entire opinion so you can see where this quote came from in the dissenting judge's opinion. The reference is:
 
No. 94-0514
Supreme Court of Texas
907 S.W.2d 503; 1995 Tex. Lexis 118; 38 Tex. Sup. J. 961; 1995-2 Trade Cas. (CCH) P71,251
 
I have the quote in NABA's- "Selling Out Mothers and Babies" and in the new publication "Still Selling Out Mothers and Babies."  The legal opinion has this as a footnote from a Ross Laboratories Training Manual that emphasized the importance of the hospital staff:
 
"Ross Hospital Feeding System is designed to provide an early and convenient means of getting infants started on Similac... and ultimately sent home with instructions that they continue to use Similac."
 
"Never underestimate the importance of nurses. If they are sold and serviced properly, they can be strong allies. A nurse who supports Ross is like an extra salesperson."
 
Selling and servicing nurses by the formula rep is a real art and skill. Their job is to break down the professional barriers between salesman and clinician by gift giving, provision of food, bestowing of compliments, and generally bribing nurses to look favorably on infant formula. This is why the staunchest supporters of the commercial discharge bags have been found to be nurses. "Selling and servicing" nurses is the goal of formula reps. How this cheapens the nursing profession is unbelievable. Some nurses must enjoy the demeaning actions and like how little regard these salespeople have for them as a person or for their profession. As long as formula reps are allowed to violate hospital vendor policies, bribe physicians, nurses and hospitals, slink along the corridors plotting how to make sure every baby is exposed to formula, we will never get rid of this insidious barrier to breastfeeding.
 
There is another great quote in a booklet by Mead Johnson entitled, "Your Role in Compliance" which looks at relationships between formula companies and hospitals:
 
"The rationale for providing free samples of infant formula is that they are for patients' trial use to enable them to evaluate whether to purchase the same product after discharge." And here I thought the purpose of a hospital was to promote health!
 
Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA
 
 
 
 
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